150 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK (13th - 19th JULY 1870)
This week's stories include the mysterious flight of the Prescot businessman charged with an unnatural offence, a police raid on a bare-knuckle prize-fight at Clock Face, the women pugilists of Greenbank, there's trouble between the ladies of Moss Nook and why they were holding big celebrations at Lea Green over a little railway line.
We begin on the 13th with the heroic rescue by two men of two boys from a deep clay pit in Marshalls Cross – although another lad sadly drowned. The three boys had been fishing for sticklebacks when Frederick Hayward overbalanced and fell into the water. The two companions of the 10-year-old bravely went in after their pal but soon got into difficulties themselves. Robert Miles and Thomas Critchley heard their cries and after considerable exertions managed to drag them both to safety but could do nothing for Frederick.
On the 14th Samuel France was due to stand trial at the Kirkdale Quarter Sessions at Liverpool on a charge that the St Helens Newspaper described euphemistically as "attempting to commit an unnatural offence upon a young man called Francis William Pettitt". Court records state that the actual charge that the wealthy Prescot wine and spirit merchant faced was "attempting to commit buggery". Six weeks earlier the Newspaper had published some bare details of the alleged attack by France and described how afterwards Pettitt had: "...opened his penknife and said “Show me out of this infernal hole, for, by the gods, one of us will be in kingdom come in less than five minutes.”"
France had agreed to pay the huge sum of £500 as bail and his brother John had agreed to stand as surety for a further sum of £500. However to everyone's surprise France failed to make an appearance in court having decided to go on the run. A warrant was issued for his arrest and the £1,000 total was forfeited. An unskilled labourer might expect to earn £50 - 60 in a year and so that really was a massive amount. France's accuser, Francis Pettitt, had previously offered to let the matter drop if he paid a much smaller amount to charity. How France must have rued not taking Pettitt up on that offer!
He had been a well-respected businessman but had decided to penny pinch when negotiating with his accuser. What happened to him I cannot say as I can find no record of Samuel France being arrested or ever being heard of again. He appears to have done a "Lord Lucan" many years before the latter was born. As France's defence was that the act was consensual, he may well have felt he was completely ruined whatever the outcome of the trial.
It's hard to imagine the joy and celebrations that the opening of a short branch railway line could create. However before the days of motor lorries, the railway was a lifeline for a business in distributing its product. This was especially so if you made heavy items like bricks, pipes and pots – as Roughdale's of Lea Green (pictured above) did. You couldn't send many of these very far by horse and cart but by train it was a different story. This is how the Liverpool Daily Post described Roughdale's opening of a 587-yard stretch of railway line on the 14th:
"Lea Green, a station between Rainhill and St. Helens Junction, on the London and North-Western Railway, exhibited a festive appearance on Thursday last. The Roughdales Fireclay Company (Limited) having completed the branch line of railway from their works, the directors and officers, accompanied by some of the shareholders, met at Lea Green (by appointment) at two o’clock in the afternoon, and formally opened the line, a truck decorated with flags taking them from the station to the works.
"The chairman of the company, Mr. Isaac Dixon, gave an interesting account of the rapid progress the works had made during the two years of its existence, and referred to the fact that the line which had been opened gave the company communication with almost every principal town and seaport in the United Kingdom. The directors entertained the workpeople and their friends, who evidently spent a very pleasant afternoon. A band of music was in attendance, and dancing, foot-racing, &c., made the holiday very enjoyable."
Under the heading "Women Pugilists" the St Helens Newspaper described a hearing in the Petty Sessions on the 18th concerning Greenbank – the predominantly Irish district around Liverpool Road: "Mary Buckley and Bridget Glen were charged with a breach of the peace by fighting on the 15th July in High-street, Greenbank. Police-constable 638 said the defendants were creating a great disturbance together, with Buckley’s husband, by indulging in a “free fight” in the back yard.
"Glen said the other woman, Buckley, attacked her with a rolling pin, and “she was rolling about in her gores in the gutter”. In addition to physical force arguments, the usual amount of un-Parliamentary epithets were launched at each other by the fair belligerents. – They were both bound over to keep the peace."
Also in trouble was Margaret Noonan who was charged with assaulting Elizabeth Roach outside the Town Hall. The pair from Moss Nook in Sutton had been involved in a court case, which had been held a week earlier at the courtroom at the Town Hall. Seventeen-year-old Elizabeth said Margaret had used very bad language to her and threatened her with a knife. When they got back to Sutton the young woman claimed that Mrs Noonan had "raised the place". The St Helens Newspaper added that the 29-year-old woman had "vapoured about with a knife, but she fortunately contented herself with pantomimic display."
Margaret Noonan denied the charge but Police Constable Geddes gave evidence of witnessing the assault outside the Town Hall and so she was found guilty. The Newspaper wrote: "The bench imposed a fine of 5s and costs. – The defendant: Well, sir, I haven't got it. – The bench intimated that if the fine and costs were not paid she would be committed to prison for 14 days. – Defendant (meekly): Thank you, sir."
It probably would have been touch and go whether the woman went to prison. The court costs would likely have been another 5 or 6 shillings and the total amount was probably about half her husband Thomas's weekly wage as a labourer. However there was a sequel to this case as Elizabeth Roach had upset a couple of other Sutton women.
Ann Noonan was charged along with Mary Tarpey of using defamatory language towards Mrs Roach. Mrs Tarpey was ill and so her case was adjourned for a month. The allegations that Ann Noonan had made about Elizabeth Roach were pretty horrendous. She accused the young woman of smothering two of her babies in an ashpit. The ashpits were the dumps that contained human waste and were mixed with ashes to reduce the smell and keep pests away. The Bench decided it was simply another women's quarrel and bound Ann Noonan over to keep the peace. Thirty-two years later her son Michael Noonan would be shot dead in Moss Nook.
Joseph Sephton appeared in the Petty Sessions charged with threatening to assault his wife Mary at Sutton. Her solicitor said the "old woman" was twenty years older than her husband and had married Sephton after the death of her first husband. Mary then had a bit of money but Joseph, he said, had soon spent it. The couple had lived together so unhappily for 14 years that she had been forced to leave her husband and move in with her daughter.
Then on July 10th as Mary was going to chapel, Sephton came up to her and threatened to "smash her old face". The Bench was told that Mary was living in fear of the violence of her husband and the magistrates bound Joseph Sephton over to keep the peace. According to the 1871 census Mary would have been 59 at the time of the court hearing and her coal miner husband was 33. The census also reveals that the couple were back living together in Manor Street in Peasley Cross.
As well as local stories, the St Helens Newspaper covered national and international news and on the 19th described how war had been declared between France and Prussia. "Both countries are on the eve of a terrible struggle", they wrote, adding that the Emperor of France and King William of Prussia had both taken to the field at the head of their respective armies.
Last year the St Helens Newspaper had been highly critical of the police for failing to stop a 60-round, bare-knuckle prize-fight in Thatto Heath, writing: "We may, perhaps, be favoured with a few more of these degrading and brutal exhibitions if the supine and effete management of our police force is permitted to continue." Since then the police had been far more proactive and around 6am on the 19th they raided a prize-fight near to Clock Face.
The two bare-knuckle boxers were allowed to escape by the crowd but eight men were arrested and within a few hours had appeared in court where they were bound over but needed to find large sureties. The Liverpool Courier described the spectators as a "choice band of blackguards" – while the Manchester Evening News dubbed them "a large concourse of roughs".
The owners of Sutton Copper Works were back in court on the 19th after being sued by a farmer from Bold. At the Chancery Court at St George's Hall in Liverpool, Ellis Heyes claimed his farm was 45 acres in size – although the 1871 census states 22 acres. It was situated near Gorsey Lane and appears to have been Maypole Farm. Mr Heyes demanded compensation for damage done to his crops through the emission of noxious vapours from the copper firm's works.
These were located a mile away in Sutton Oak, off Lancots Lane, and pumped out fumes containing sulphuric acid. The problem was that there were many other chimneys from other works in the district that belched out fumes – so how could it be proved that the copper works was solely to blame?
Many scientific witnesses gave evidence and a Government Inspector who had tested the smoke in a number of chimneys said he believed that the copper works was only responsible for 10.2% of the farmer's crop damage. Just how he came up with that incredibly precise number I cannot possibly imagine! The farmer wanted £68 compensation for damage done over three years but after hearing the inspector's evidence, the jury awarded him just £9 5 shillings.
Next week's stories will include the Church Street dentist's that was also a confectioners, Lord and Lady Derby's fawning reception at Knowsley, the 3-month-long Pilkington glass strike, the almost unbearable hot weather in St Helens and the Parr woman "moistening her clay".
We begin on the 13th with the heroic rescue by two men of two boys from a deep clay pit in Marshalls Cross – although another lad sadly drowned. The three boys had been fishing for sticklebacks when Frederick Hayward overbalanced and fell into the water. The two companions of the 10-year-old bravely went in after their pal but soon got into difficulties themselves. Robert Miles and Thomas Critchley heard their cries and after considerable exertions managed to drag them both to safety but could do nothing for Frederick.
On the 14th Samuel France was due to stand trial at the Kirkdale Quarter Sessions at Liverpool on a charge that the St Helens Newspaper described euphemistically as "attempting to commit an unnatural offence upon a young man called Francis William Pettitt". Court records state that the actual charge that the wealthy Prescot wine and spirit merchant faced was "attempting to commit buggery". Six weeks earlier the Newspaper had published some bare details of the alleged attack by France and described how afterwards Pettitt had: "...opened his penknife and said “Show me out of this infernal hole, for, by the gods, one of us will be in kingdom come in less than five minutes.”"
France had agreed to pay the huge sum of £500 as bail and his brother John had agreed to stand as surety for a further sum of £500. However to everyone's surprise France failed to make an appearance in court having decided to go on the run. A warrant was issued for his arrest and the £1,000 total was forfeited. An unskilled labourer might expect to earn £50 - 60 in a year and so that really was a massive amount. France's accuser, Francis Pettitt, had previously offered to let the matter drop if he paid a much smaller amount to charity. How France must have rued not taking Pettitt up on that offer!
He had been a well-respected businessman but had decided to penny pinch when negotiating with his accuser. What happened to him I cannot say as I can find no record of Samuel France being arrested or ever being heard of again. He appears to have done a "Lord Lucan" many years before the latter was born. As France's defence was that the act was consensual, he may well have felt he was completely ruined whatever the outcome of the trial.
"Lea Green, a station between Rainhill and St. Helens Junction, on the London and North-Western Railway, exhibited a festive appearance on Thursday last. The Roughdales Fireclay Company (Limited) having completed the branch line of railway from their works, the directors and officers, accompanied by some of the shareholders, met at Lea Green (by appointment) at two o’clock in the afternoon, and formally opened the line, a truck decorated with flags taking them from the station to the works.
"The chairman of the company, Mr. Isaac Dixon, gave an interesting account of the rapid progress the works had made during the two years of its existence, and referred to the fact that the line which had been opened gave the company communication with almost every principal town and seaport in the United Kingdom. The directors entertained the workpeople and their friends, who evidently spent a very pleasant afternoon. A band of music was in attendance, and dancing, foot-racing, &c., made the holiday very enjoyable."
Under the heading "Women Pugilists" the St Helens Newspaper described a hearing in the Petty Sessions on the 18th concerning Greenbank – the predominantly Irish district around Liverpool Road: "Mary Buckley and Bridget Glen were charged with a breach of the peace by fighting on the 15th July in High-street, Greenbank. Police-constable 638 said the defendants were creating a great disturbance together, with Buckley’s husband, by indulging in a “free fight” in the back yard.
"Glen said the other woman, Buckley, attacked her with a rolling pin, and “she was rolling about in her gores in the gutter”. In addition to physical force arguments, the usual amount of un-Parliamentary epithets were launched at each other by the fair belligerents. – They were both bound over to keep the peace."
Also in trouble was Margaret Noonan who was charged with assaulting Elizabeth Roach outside the Town Hall. The pair from Moss Nook in Sutton had been involved in a court case, which had been held a week earlier at the courtroom at the Town Hall. Seventeen-year-old Elizabeth said Margaret had used very bad language to her and threatened her with a knife. When they got back to Sutton the young woman claimed that Mrs Noonan had "raised the place". The St Helens Newspaper added that the 29-year-old woman had "vapoured about with a knife, but she fortunately contented herself with pantomimic display."
Margaret Noonan denied the charge but Police Constable Geddes gave evidence of witnessing the assault outside the Town Hall and so she was found guilty. The Newspaper wrote: "The bench imposed a fine of 5s and costs. – The defendant: Well, sir, I haven't got it. – The bench intimated that if the fine and costs were not paid she would be committed to prison for 14 days. – Defendant (meekly): Thank you, sir."
It probably would have been touch and go whether the woman went to prison. The court costs would likely have been another 5 or 6 shillings and the total amount was probably about half her husband Thomas's weekly wage as a labourer. However there was a sequel to this case as Elizabeth Roach had upset a couple of other Sutton women.
Ann Noonan was charged along with Mary Tarpey of using defamatory language towards Mrs Roach. Mrs Tarpey was ill and so her case was adjourned for a month. The allegations that Ann Noonan had made about Elizabeth Roach were pretty horrendous. She accused the young woman of smothering two of her babies in an ashpit. The ashpits were the dumps that contained human waste and were mixed with ashes to reduce the smell and keep pests away. The Bench decided it was simply another women's quarrel and bound Ann Noonan over to keep the peace. Thirty-two years later her son Michael Noonan would be shot dead in Moss Nook.
Joseph Sephton appeared in the Petty Sessions charged with threatening to assault his wife Mary at Sutton. Her solicitor said the "old woman" was twenty years older than her husband and had married Sephton after the death of her first husband. Mary then had a bit of money but Joseph, he said, had soon spent it. The couple had lived together so unhappily for 14 years that she had been forced to leave her husband and move in with her daughter.
Then on July 10th as Mary was going to chapel, Sephton came up to her and threatened to "smash her old face". The Bench was told that Mary was living in fear of the violence of her husband and the magistrates bound Joseph Sephton over to keep the peace. According to the 1871 census Mary would have been 59 at the time of the court hearing and her coal miner husband was 33. The census also reveals that the couple were back living together in Manor Street in Peasley Cross.
As well as local stories, the St Helens Newspaper covered national and international news and on the 19th described how war had been declared between France and Prussia. "Both countries are on the eve of a terrible struggle", they wrote, adding that the Emperor of France and King William of Prussia had both taken to the field at the head of their respective armies.
Last year the St Helens Newspaper had been highly critical of the police for failing to stop a 60-round, bare-knuckle prize-fight in Thatto Heath, writing: "We may, perhaps, be favoured with a few more of these degrading and brutal exhibitions if the supine and effete management of our police force is permitted to continue." Since then the police had been far more proactive and around 6am on the 19th they raided a prize-fight near to Clock Face.
The two bare-knuckle boxers were allowed to escape by the crowd but eight men were arrested and within a few hours had appeared in court where they were bound over but needed to find large sureties. The Liverpool Courier described the spectators as a "choice band of blackguards" – while the Manchester Evening News dubbed them "a large concourse of roughs".
The owners of Sutton Copper Works were back in court on the 19th after being sued by a farmer from Bold. At the Chancery Court at St George's Hall in Liverpool, Ellis Heyes claimed his farm was 45 acres in size – although the 1871 census states 22 acres. It was situated near Gorsey Lane and appears to have been Maypole Farm. Mr Heyes demanded compensation for damage done to his crops through the emission of noxious vapours from the copper firm's works.
These were located a mile away in Sutton Oak, off Lancots Lane, and pumped out fumes containing sulphuric acid. The problem was that there were many other chimneys from other works in the district that belched out fumes – so how could it be proved that the copper works was solely to blame?
Many scientific witnesses gave evidence and a Government Inspector who had tested the smoke in a number of chimneys said he believed that the copper works was only responsible for 10.2% of the farmer's crop damage. Just how he came up with that incredibly precise number I cannot possibly imagine! The farmer wanted £68 compensation for damage done over three years but after hearing the inspector's evidence, the jury awarded him just £9 5 shillings.
Next week's stories will include the Church Street dentist's that was also a confectioners, Lord and Lady Derby's fawning reception at Knowsley, the 3-month-long Pilkington glass strike, the almost unbearable hot weather in St Helens and the Parr woman "moistening her clay".
This week's stories include the mysterious flight of the Prescot businessman charged with an unnatural offence, a police raid on a bare-knuckle prize-fight at Clock Face, the women pugilists of Greenbank, there's trouble between the ladies of Moss Nook and why they were holding big celebrations at Lea Green over a little railway line.
We begin on the 13th with the heroic rescue by two men of two boys from a deep clay pit in Marshalls Cross – although another lad sadly drowned.
The three boys had been fishing for sticklebacks when Frederick Hayward overbalanced and fell into the water.
The two companions of the 10-year-old bravely went in after their pal but soon got into difficulties themselves.
Robert Miles and Thomas Critchley heard their cries and after considerable exertions managed to drag them both to safety but could do nothing for Frederick.
On the 14th Samuel France was due to stand trial at the Kirkdale Quarter Sessions at Liverpool on a charge that the St Helens Newspaper described euphemistically as "attempting to commit an unnatural offence upon a young man called Francis William Pettitt".
Court records state that the actual charge that the wealthy Prescot wine and spirit merchant faced was "attempting to commit buggery".
Six weeks earlier the Newspaper had published some bare details of the alleged attack by France and described how afterwards Pettitt had:
"...opened his penknife and said “Show me out of this infernal hole, for, by the gods, one of us will be in kingdom come in less than five minutes.”"
France had agreed to pay the huge sum of £500 as bail and his brother John had agreed to stand as surety for a further sum of £500.
However to everyone's surprise, France failed to make an appearance in court having decided to go on the run.
A warrant was issued for his arrest and the £1,000 total was forfeited.
An unskilled labourer might expect to earn £50 - 60 in a year and so that really was a massive amount.
France's accuser, Francis Pettitt, had previously offered to let the matter drop if he paid a much smaller amount to charity.
How France must have rued not taking Pettitt up on that offer!
He had been a well-respected businessman but had decided to penny pinch when negotiating with his accuser.
What happened to him I cannot say as I can find no record of Samuel France being arrested or ever being heard of again.
He appears to have done a "Lord Lucan" many years before the latter was born.
As France's defence was that the act was consensual, he may well have felt he was completely ruined whatever the outcome of the trial.
It's hard to imagine the joy and celebrations that the opening of a short branch railway line could create.
However before the days of motor lorries, the railway was a lifeline for a business in distributing its product.
This was especially so if you made heavy items like bricks, pipes and pots – as Roughdale's of Lea Green (pictured above) did.
You couldn't send many of these very far by horse and cart but by train it was a different story.
This is how the Liverpool Daily Post described Roughdale's opening of a 587-yard stretch of railway line on the 14th:
"Lea Green, a station between Rainhill and St. Helens Junction, on the London and North-Western Railway, exhibited a festive appearance on Thursday last.
"The Roughdales Fireclay Company (Limited) having completed the branch line of railway from their works, the directors and officers, accompanied by some of the shareholders, met at Lea Green (by appointment) at two o’clock in the afternoon, and formally opened the line, a truck decorated with flags taking them from the station to the works.
"The chairman of the company, Mr. Isaac Dixon, gave an interesting account of the rapid progress the works had made during the two years of its existence, and referred to the fact that the line which had been opened gave the company communication with almost every principal town and seaport in the United Kingdom.
"The directors entertained the workpeople and their friends, who evidently spent a very pleasant afternoon. A band of music was in attendance, and dancing, foot-racing, &c., made the holiday very enjoyable."
Under the heading "Women Pugilists" the St Helens Newspaper described a hearing in the Petty Sessions on the 18th concerning Greenbank – the predominantly Irish district around Liverpool Road:
"Mary Buckley and Bridget Glen were charged with a breach of the peace by fighting on the 15th July in High-street, Greenbank. Police-constable 638 said the defendants were creating a great disturbance together, with Buckley’s husband, by indulging in a “free fight” in the back yard.
"Glen said the other woman, Buckley, attacked her with a rolling pin, and “she was rolling about in her gores in the gutter”. In addition to physical force arguments, the usual amount of un-Parliamentary epithets were launched at each other by the fair belligerents. – They were both bound over to keep the peace."
Also in trouble was Margaret Noonan who was charged with assaulting Elizabeth Roach outside the Town Hall.
The pair from Moss Nook in Sutton had been involved in a court case, which had been held a week earlier at the courtroom at the Town Hall.
Seventeen-year-old Elizabeth said Margaret had used very bad language to her and threatened her with a knife.
When they got back to Sutton the young woman claimed that Mrs Noonan had "raised the place".
The St Helens Newspaper added that the 29-year-old woman had "vapoured about with a knife, but she fortunately contented herself with pantomimic display."
Margaret Noonan denied the charge but Police Constable Geddes gave evidence of witnessing the assault outside the Town Hall and so she was found guilty. The Newspaper wrote:
"The bench imposed a fine of 5s and costs. – The defendant: Well, sir, I haven't got it. – The bench intimated that if the fine and costs were not paid she would be committed to prison for 14 days. – Defendant (meekly): Thank you, sir."
It probably would have been touch and go whether the woman went to prison.
The court costs would likely have been another 5 or 6 shillings and the total amount was probably about half her husband Thomas's weekly wage as a labourer.
However there was a sequel to this case as Elizabeth Roach had upset a couple of other Sutton women.
Ann Noonan was charged along with Mary Tarpey of using defamatory language towards Mrs Roach.
Mrs Tarpey was ill and so her case was adjourned for a month.
The allegations that Ann Noonan had made about Elizabeth Roach were pretty horrendous.
She accused the young woman of smothering two of her babies in an ashpit.
The ashpits were the dumps that contained human waste and were mixed with ashes to reduce the smell and keep pests away.
The Bench decided it was simply another women's quarrel and bound Ann Noonan over to keep the peace.
Thirty-two years later her son Michael Noonan would be shot dead in Moss Nook.
Joseph Sephton appeared in the Petty Sessions charged with threatening to assault his wife Mary at Sutton.
Her solicitor said the "old woman" was twenty years older than her husband and had married Sephton after the death of her first husband.
Mary then had a bit of money but Joseph, he said, had soon spent it.
The couple had lived together so unhappily for 14 years that she had been forced to leave her husband and move in with her daughter.
Then on July 10th as Mary was going to chapel, Sephton came up to her and threatened to "smash her old face".
The Bench was told that Mary was living in fear of the violence of her husband and the magistrates bound Joseph Sephton over to keep the peace.
According to the 1871 census Mary would have been 59 at the time of the court hearing and her coal miner husband was 33.
The census also reveals that the couple were back living together in Manor Street in Peasley Cross.
As well as local stories, the St Helens Newspaper covered national and international news and on the 19th described how war had been declared between France and Prussia.
"Both countries are on the eve of a terrible struggle", they wrote, adding that the Emperor of France and King William of Prussia had both taken to the field at the head of their respective armies.
Last year the St Helens Newspaper had been highly critical of the police for failing to stop a 60-round, bare-knuckle prize-fight in Thatto Heath, writing:
"We may, perhaps, be favoured with a few more of these degrading and brutal exhibitions if the supine and effete management of our police force is permitted to continue."
Since then the police had been far more proactive and around 6am on the 19th they raided a prize-fight near to Clock Face.
The two bare-knuckle boxers were allowed to escape by the crowd but eight men were arrested and within a few hours had appeared in court where they were bound over but needed to find large sureties.
The Liverpool Courier described the spectators as a "choice band of blackguards" – while the Manchester Evening News dubbed them "a large concourse of roughs".
The owners of Sutton Copper Works were back in court on the 19th after being sued by a farmer from Bold.
At the Chancery Court at St George's Hall in Liverpool, Ellis Heyes claimed his farm was 45 acres in size – although the 1871 census states 22 acres.
It was situated near Gorsey Lane and appears to have been Maypole Farm.
Mr Heyes demanded compensation for damage done to his crops through the emission of noxious vapours from the copper firm's works.
These were located a mile away in Sutton Oak, off Lancots Lane, and pumped out fumes containing sulphuric acid.
The problem was that there were many other chimneys from other works in the district that belched out fumes – so how could it be proved that the copper works was solely to blame?
Many scientific witnesses gave evidence and a Government Inspector who had tested the smoke in a number of chimneys said he believed that the copper works was only responsible for 10.2% of the farmer's crop damage.
Just how he came up with that incredibly precise number I cannot possibly imagine!
The farmer wanted £68 compensation for damage done over three years but after hearing the inspector's evidence, the jury awarded him just £9 5 shillings.
Next week's stories will include the Church Street dentist's that was also a confectioners, Lord and Lady Derby's fawning reception at Knowsley, the 3-month-long Pilkington glass strike, the almost unbearable hot weather in St Helens and the Parr woman "moistening her clay".
We begin on the 13th with the heroic rescue by two men of two boys from a deep clay pit in Marshalls Cross – although another lad sadly drowned.
The three boys had been fishing for sticklebacks when Frederick Hayward overbalanced and fell into the water.
The two companions of the 10-year-old bravely went in after their pal but soon got into difficulties themselves.
Robert Miles and Thomas Critchley heard their cries and after considerable exertions managed to drag them both to safety but could do nothing for Frederick.
On the 14th Samuel France was due to stand trial at the Kirkdale Quarter Sessions at Liverpool on a charge that the St Helens Newspaper described euphemistically as "attempting to commit an unnatural offence upon a young man called Francis William Pettitt".
Court records state that the actual charge that the wealthy Prescot wine and spirit merchant faced was "attempting to commit buggery".
Six weeks earlier the Newspaper had published some bare details of the alleged attack by France and described how afterwards Pettitt had:
"...opened his penknife and said “Show me out of this infernal hole, for, by the gods, one of us will be in kingdom come in less than five minutes.”"
France had agreed to pay the huge sum of £500 as bail and his brother John had agreed to stand as surety for a further sum of £500.
However to everyone's surprise, France failed to make an appearance in court having decided to go on the run.
A warrant was issued for his arrest and the £1,000 total was forfeited.
An unskilled labourer might expect to earn £50 - 60 in a year and so that really was a massive amount.
France's accuser, Francis Pettitt, had previously offered to let the matter drop if he paid a much smaller amount to charity.
How France must have rued not taking Pettitt up on that offer!
He had been a well-respected businessman but had decided to penny pinch when negotiating with his accuser.
What happened to him I cannot say as I can find no record of Samuel France being arrested or ever being heard of again.
He appears to have done a "Lord Lucan" many years before the latter was born.
As France's defence was that the act was consensual, he may well have felt he was completely ruined whatever the outcome of the trial.
It's hard to imagine the joy and celebrations that the opening of a short branch railway line could create.
However before the days of motor lorries, the railway was a lifeline for a business in distributing its product.
You couldn't send many of these very far by horse and cart but by train it was a different story.
This is how the Liverpool Daily Post described Roughdale's opening of a 587-yard stretch of railway line on the 14th:
"Lea Green, a station between Rainhill and St. Helens Junction, on the London and North-Western Railway, exhibited a festive appearance on Thursday last.
"The Roughdales Fireclay Company (Limited) having completed the branch line of railway from their works, the directors and officers, accompanied by some of the shareholders, met at Lea Green (by appointment) at two o’clock in the afternoon, and formally opened the line, a truck decorated with flags taking them from the station to the works.
"The chairman of the company, Mr. Isaac Dixon, gave an interesting account of the rapid progress the works had made during the two years of its existence, and referred to the fact that the line which had been opened gave the company communication with almost every principal town and seaport in the United Kingdom.
"The directors entertained the workpeople and their friends, who evidently spent a very pleasant afternoon. A band of music was in attendance, and dancing, foot-racing, &c., made the holiday very enjoyable."
Under the heading "Women Pugilists" the St Helens Newspaper described a hearing in the Petty Sessions on the 18th concerning Greenbank – the predominantly Irish district around Liverpool Road:
"Mary Buckley and Bridget Glen were charged with a breach of the peace by fighting on the 15th July in High-street, Greenbank. Police-constable 638 said the defendants were creating a great disturbance together, with Buckley’s husband, by indulging in a “free fight” in the back yard.
"Glen said the other woman, Buckley, attacked her with a rolling pin, and “she was rolling about in her gores in the gutter”. In addition to physical force arguments, the usual amount of un-Parliamentary epithets were launched at each other by the fair belligerents. – They were both bound over to keep the peace."
Also in trouble was Margaret Noonan who was charged with assaulting Elizabeth Roach outside the Town Hall.
The pair from Moss Nook in Sutton had been involved in a court case, which had been held a week earlier at the courtroom at the Town Hall.
Seventeen-year-old Elizabeth said Margaret had used very bad language to her and threatened her with a knife.
When they got back to Sutton the young woman claimed that Mrs Noonan had "raised the place".
The St Helens Newspaper added that the 29-year-old woman had "vapoured about with a knife, but she fortunately contented herself with pantomimic display."
Margaret Noonan denied the charge but Police Constable Geddes gave evidence of witnessing the assault outside the Town Hall and so she was found guilty. The Newspaper wrote:
"The bench imposed a fine of 5s and costs. – The defendant: Well, sir, I haven't got it. – The bench intimated that if the fine and costs were not paid she would be committed to prison for 14 days. – Defendant (meekly): Thank you, sir."
It probably would have been touch and go whether the woman went to prison.
The court costs would likely have been another 5 or 6 shillings and the total amount was probably about half her husband Thomas's weekly wage as a labourer.
However there was a sequel to this case as Elizabeth Roach had upset a couple of other Sutton women.
Ann Noonan was charged along with Mary Tarpey of using defamatory language towards Mrs Roach.
Mrs Tarpey was ill and so her case was adjourned for a month.
The allegations that Ann Noonan had made about Elizabeth Roach were pretty horrendous.
She accused the young woman of smothering two of her babies in an ashpit.
The ashpits were the dumps that contained human waste and were mixed with ashes to reduce the smell and keep pests away.
The Bench decided it was simply another women's quarrel and bound Ann Noonan over to keep the peace.
Thirty-two years later her son Michael Noonan would be shot dead in Moss Nook.
Joseph Sephton appeared in the Petty Sessions charged with threatening to assault his wife Mary at Sutton.
Her solicitor said the "old woman" was twenty years older than her husband and had married Sephton after the death of her first husband.
Mary then had a bit of money but Joseph, he said, had soon spent it.
The couple had lived together so unhappily for 14 years that she had been forced to leave her husband and move in with her daughter.
Then on July 10th as Mary was going to chapel, Sephton came up to her and threatened to "smash her old face".
The Bench was told that Mary was living in fear of the violence of her husband and the magistrates bound Joseph Sephton over to keep the peace.
According to the 1871 census Mary would have been 59 at the time of the court hearing and her coal miner husband was 33.
The census also reveals that the couple were back living together in Manor Street in Peasley Cross.
As well as local stories, the St Helens Newspaper covered national and international news and on the 19th described how war had been declared between France and Prussia.
"Both countries are on the eve of a terrible struggle", they wrote, adding that the Emperor of France and King William of Prussia had both taken to the field at the head of their respective armies.
Last year the St Helens Newspaper had been highly critical of the police for failing to stop a 60-round, bare-knuckle prize-fight in Thatto Heath, writing:
"We may, perhaps, be favoured with a few more of these degrading and brutal exhibitions if the supine and effete management of our police force is permitted to continue."
Since then the police had been far more proactive and around 6am on the 19th they raided a prize-fight near to Clock Face.
The two bare-knuckle boxers were allowed to escape by the crowd but eight men were arrested and within a few hours had appeared in court where they were bound over but needed to find large sureties.
The Liverpool Courier described the spectators as a "choice band of blackguards" – while the Manchester Evening News dubbed them "a large concourse of roughs".
The owners of Sutton Copper Works were back in court on the 19th after being sued by a farmer from Bold.
At the Chancery Court at St George's Hall in Liverpool, Ellis Heyes claimed his farm was 45 acres in size – although the 1871 census states 22 acres.
It was situated near Gorsey Lane and appears to have been Maypole Farm.
Mr Heyes demanded compensation for damage done to his crops through the emission of noxious vapours from the copper firm's works.
These were located a mile away in Sutton Oak, off Lancots Lane, and pumped out fumes containing sulphuric acid.
The problem was that there were many other chimneys from other works in the district that belched out fumes – so how could it be proved that the copper works was solely to blame?
Many scientific witnesses gave evidence and a Government Inspector who had tested the smoke in a number of chimneys said he believed that the copper works was only responsible for 10.2% of the farmer's crop damage.
Just how he came up with that incredibly precise number I cannot possibly imagine!
The farmer wanted £68 compensation for damage done over three years but after hearing the inspector's evidence, the jury awarded him just £9 5 shillings.
Next week's stories will include the Church Street dentist's that was also a confectioners, Lord and Lady Derby's fawning reception at Knowsley, the 3-month-long Pilkington glass strike, the almost unbearable hot weather in St Helens and the Parr woman "moistening her clay".